The Philadelphia 76ers are being patient regarding James Harden’s trade request, and they are not in a hurry to move the star guard. This could potentially result in a stalemate between the two sides that extends into training camp. According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, if it lasts that long, Harden is expected to report to training camp. However, this may not be beneficial for the Sixers as Harden has a history of using his behavior to get his way and he remains interested in joining the Los Angeles Clippers.
According to Fischer:
Harden, a future Hall of Famer and a top 75 player of all time with scoring titles and an MVP of his own, is experienced in conduct that can push a team to finally move on from him. If this saga continues until Media Day on Oct. 2, it is expected that Harden will report to training camp. Showing up can cause more headaches for the organization you are trying to leave than staying home. With both the Rockets and Nets, Harden made trips away from the team for nightlife activities. He made Brooklyn feel like they had no choice but to trade him to the Sixers before the 2022 trade deadline, or risk losing him for nothing. With Philadelphia, Harden’s side believes that joining the Clippers will happen, it’s just a matter of when.
The Sixers are still hoping that Harden will change his mind and play out the final year of his contract in Philadelphia. Their public stance is that they will only trade him if it benefits the franchise in the present. So far, no suitable deal has been made, but that may change before the start of training camp.
Two years ago, the Sixers dealt with a similar situation when Ben Simmons requested a trade and sat out until his wish was granted. He was eventually traded to the Brooklyn Nets for… Harden. It’s an interesting turn of events.
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The difference between Simmons and Harden is that Simmons had already signed a guaranteed max contract before his holdout, while Harden doesn’t have any guaranteed money beyond the ’23-24 season. For Harden, it is in his best interest to play well next season as he’ll be seeking a new deal next summer. Sitting out or performing poorly out of spite could negatively impact his future earning potential.
The Sixers, on the other hand, have an incentive to complete a deal before training camp. This would prevent any potential locker room issues caused by Harden’s presence. Joel Embiid, the reigning NBA MVP, had to deal with the Simmons distraction for half of a season in the past, and it’s unlikely that he wants to go through that again.
Embiid is currently the main factor keeping the Sixers in contention, so it is in the organization’s best interest to keep him happy. Another prolonged drama that affects his supporting cast could have the opposite effect.
